Distribution of the reef manta ray Mobula alfredi and the oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris in the Philippines: a collaborative effort for conservation.

Autor: Rambahiniarison J; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines.; Coastal Oceans Research and Development - Indian Ocean East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya., Agustines A; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Alexopoulos K; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK., Araujo G; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines.; Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, UK., Armstrong AO; Project Manta, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia., Arnold S; The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Dorset, UK., Barruga A; Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape, Department of Environment and Natural Resources V, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Masbate City, Philippines., Cañete T; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Conales S Jr; Tubbataha Management Office, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines., Delijero K; World Wildlife Fund Philippines, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines., Enolva NP; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Region 5, Department of Agriculture, Camarines Sur, Philippines., Flam AL; Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA., Keane E; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK., Labaja J; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Legaspi CG; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Murie C; The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK.; The Underwater Africa Foundation, Inhambane, Mozambique., Murray R; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Oliver SP; The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK., Pierce SJ; Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA., Ponzo A; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Rohner CA; Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA., Schifferer R; Dive Sibaltan, El Nido, Philippines., Snow S; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Spakowski M; Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines., Stevens GMW; The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Dorset, UK., Tilgel T; Dive Sibaltan, El Nido, Philippines., Wong JNC; Ticao Island Resort, San Jacinto, Philippines., Yaptinchay AA; Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Makati, Philippines., Barr Y; School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of fish biology [J Fish Biol] 2023 Feb; Vol. 102 (2), pp. 492-503. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Dec 19.
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15283
Abstrakt: Little is known about manta ray population size, structure and connectivity in the Philippines. In collaboration with dive operators, non-governmental organizations and authorities, sightings of manta rays were collated into a single national database. Using in-water photographs and videos gathered through citizen science and dedicated research efforts, this study compiled sightings between 2004 and 2020, showing 22 separate sites throughout the archipelago with manta rays present. A total of 392 individual reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and 107 oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) were identified from the collected footage. Four specific sites in the provinces of Masbate and Palawan together hosted 89% of all identified individuals and accounted for 95% of sightings, highlighting these areas are key aggregation sites. This study also reports the movements of M. birostris within the Philippines, based on photo-identification of three individuals moving 150 km between Cebu and Masbate. Despite the growing number of recreational divers in Daanbantayan and San Jacinto, an 80% decline in M. birostris sightings was observed at these sites. To ensure effective future conservation, it is recommended that efforts focus on the identification and protection of manta ray hotspots and migratory corridors, the creation of a sustainable tourism framework and, most important, the implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce fisheries interactions.
(© 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: